LaCorp Reaps $600,000 Settlement From Credit Suisse

Louisiana Corporate Credit Union has emerged victorious from a decade-long suit involving the liquidation of National Century Financial Enterprises. The corporate, in an announcement last week, said it has agreed to a $600,000 settlement with Credit Suisse, the last remaining defendant in the securities fraud case.

“This settlement for nearly $600,000 after legal fees came after years of strenuous litigation and brings the total recovery to 98% of Louisiana Corporate’s original investment amount,” said David Savoie, president/CEO of the $137 million LaCorp.

Savoie told Credit Union Times the windfall will double LaCorp’s retained earnings of $524,000 as of the end of February. To put the extra income into perspective, the Metairie, La.-based corporate’s 2013 net income was $378,000. Savoie said he had budgeted for a $191,000 net profit this year.

Savoie said the contingent legal fees totaled 10%, much lower than seen in recent settlements of asset-backed securities. The NCUA’s 25% contingency rate was challenged by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) last fall. However, the regulator’s inspector general determined found the legal fees reasonable.

LaCorp’s attorneys and CPA firm had estimated that at least 80% of the fraud losses would be recouped through National Century’s liquidation; however, the corporate had been required to write down 80% of the bond as an other than temporary impairment. But in a twist of fate, by following GAAP, recoveries of previous write-downs have been recorded as a credit to income and used to bolster LaCorp’s retained earnings.

In two separate civil actions filed in 2002 against a number of defendants, LaCorp engaged in a more than decade-long court case, vowing to regain its 141 members’ funds to the greatest extent possible.

This latest settlement brings the total to more than $2.4 million recovered from the original $2.5 million default, plus an additional $25,000 in interest earned before the bond defaulted, Savoie said.

“We decided to make every reasonable effort to recover the funds if competent legal and accounting professionals believed it to be feasible,” Savoie said

Savoie and the LaCorp board worked closely with their legal counsel, R. Patrick Vance, partner with the New Orleans law firm of Jones Walker regarding the ABS and OTTI.

“OTTI estimates are produced in a highly complex and technical manner,” said Vance, who leads Jones Walkers’ Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Group. “Like all estimates, they are predictions of the future and can vary widely. Based on the current method/protocol for determining OTTI, they may prove to be overstated when all the chips have fallen.”

LaCorp said the initial OTTI mandates of 80% were off by 78%.

Savoie said he is gratified by the result.

“While it was a long time coming, the corporate and our legal counsel steadfastly pursued this matter, and our members enjoy an even stronger institution as a result,” he said.